EP3775823B1 - Pressure controlled cargo container for controlled atmosphere applications - Google Patents
Pressure controlled cargo container for controlled atmosphere applications Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3775823B1 EP3775823B1 EP19719120.8A EP19719120A EP3775823B1 EP 3775823 B1 EP3775823 B1 EP 3775823B1 EP 19719120 A EP19719120 A EP 19719120A EP 3775823 B1 EP3775823 B1 EP 3775823B1
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- Prior art keywords
- container
- container box
- box
- pressure
- threshold
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- 238000004320 controlled atmosphere Methods 0.000 title description 2
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 claims description 22
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000036316 preload Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003032 molecular docking Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
- G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
- G01M3/26—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
- G01M3/32—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators
- G01M3/3236—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators by monitoring the interior space of the containers
- G01M3/3272—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators by monitoring the interior space of the containers for verifying the internal pressure of closed containers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D88/00—Large containers
- B65D88/02—Large containers rigid
- B65D88/12—Large containers rigid specially adapted for transport
- B65D88/121—ISO containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/48—Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices
- B65D90/50—Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices of leakage-indicating devices
- B65D90/51—Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices of leakage-indicating devices characterised by sensors
Definitions
- Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of container transport and more specifically to a pressure controlled cargo container.
- a cargo ship sometimes referred to as a tanker, freighter ship or container ship, may carry many thousands of controlled atmosphere type cargo containers, alternatively referred to as container boxes.
- Typical container boxes are twenty (20) feet long and forty (40) feet long.
- Studies show that up to ninety (90) percent of non-bulk cargo (bulk cargo being unpackaged commodity cargo) worldwide is transported by container boxes.
- An air tightness test may include pressurizing a typical container box to between two and a half and three inches of water-gauge (WG) and timing a duration in which the container box pressure drops from two inches WG to one inch WG.
- WG water-gauge
- the pressure drop duration for a forty foot container box should be at least eight minutes while the pressure drop duration for a twenty foot container box should be at least four minutes.
- Leaks should be found and repaired before container boxes are loaded for shipment. Typical leaks are found in a rear curtain of the container box, as well as in various implements associated with securing an access panel to a front of the container box, including perimeter gaskets, outer gaskets and bolt holes and around washers.
- CA 2122250 A1 discloses a method and device for testing the gas-tightness of containers.
- US 2017/003191 A1 discloses a diagnostic system for detecting leaks in a pneumatic system such as a patient support surface including a mattress.
- the present invention provides a container box configured for transporting cargo on a ship, truck or train, the container box comprising: a front end and a rear end, the rear end having a rear curtain for enclosing cargo therein, the front end having a container controller disposed within an access panel, the container controller controlling the container box; one or more pressure transducers disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transducers operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers, the container box configured to perform an airtightness test during a shipping operation, including: pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold; monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold; monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold; determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range; and when the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement;
- the transportation vehicle is one or more of a roadway based vehicle, a railway based vehicle and a waterway based vehicle.
- the container box includes a compressor and a compressor controller for controlling the compressor, the container controller being in operational communication with the compressor controller, wherein pressurizing the container box includes the container controller controlling the compressor to pressurizing container box until pressure in the container box is above the first threshold.
- the container box is a forty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than eight minutes.
- the container box is a twenty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than four minutes.
- the access panel is connected to the front of the cargo container by a plurality of bolts and the access panel is fluidly secured to the cargo container by a plurality of gaskets.
- the present invention provides a method for performing an airtightness test during a shipping operation on a container box configured for transporting cargo on a ship, truck or train, wherein the container box includes: a front end and a rear end, the rear end having a rear curtain for enclosing cargo therein, the front end having a container controller disposed within an access panel, the container controller controlling the container box, and one or more pressure transducers disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transduces operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers, the method comprising: during a shipping operation, pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold; monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold; monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold; determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range, and when the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating
- a tanker 90 docking at and departing from a seaport 92, may transport a plurality of container boxes including a first container box 104.
- the first container box 104 will be alternatively referred to herein as container box 104.
- the container box 104 Before and/or after shipment, the container box 104 may be subject to transportation on one or more of a container train 94, a truck 96, and may be loaded and/or unloaded at a storage warehouse 98. All aspects of the disclosed embodiments as discussed hereinafter are equally applicable to each of these forms of transportation and storage.
- the logistic monitor 106 is a smart mobile device. Smart mobile devices may include mobile phones and/or tablets, executing an appropriate "app" available via an application store such as through Google (https://play.google.com/store/), Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/) or Apple.
- the logistics monitor 106 may be configured to communicate with a global positioning system (GPS) 107 or other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for tracking a location of the tanker 90.
- GPS global positioning system
- GNSS global navigation satellite system
- the container box 104 has a front end 108 and a rear end 112.
- the rear end 112 has a rear curtain 116 to seal cargo 120 therein.
- the front end 108 has a container controller 124 disposed within an access panel 128.
- the container controller 124 is used for controlling functionality of implements within the container box 104 as disclosed herein.
- the container controller 124 may be a Carrier MicroLink Controller by Carrier Corporation, a brand of UTC (United Technologies Corporation) climate, Controls and Security division, headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, USA.
- the access panel 128 may have connector implements 132 for connecting the access panel to the container box 104.
- the connector implements 132 may include bolt holes 136, bolts 140 and washers 144.
- Surrounding the access panel 128 may be a perimeter gasket 148 and an outer gasket 152. Many of these implements as well as the area of the container box 104 around rear curtain 116 may provide an undesirable level of air leakage from the container box 104.
- each transducer may be identical and may be used identically, the first transducer may be alternatively referred to herein as transducer 156.
- the one or more pressure transducers enable the container controller 124 to determine a pressure within the container box 102.
- the container controller 124 may be equipped with a pressure gauge 172 such as a Magnehelic gauge by Dwyer Instruments, of Michigan City, Indiana, USA.
- the gauge 172 in operational communication with the transducer 156, may be able to indicate pressure within the container box 104 as being in a plurality of pressure ranges.
- a first range 176 of the plurality of pressure ranges may have a first upper range of three inches Water-Gauge (WG) and a first lower range of two inches WG.
- WG Water-Gauge
- the first lower range may be referred to as a first threshold.
- a second range 180 of the plurality of pressure ranges may have a second upper limit that may be the same as the first threshold, and a second lower limit of one inch WG.
- the second lower limit may be referred to as a second threshold.
- a third range 184 of the plurality of pressure ranges may have a third upper limit that may be the same as the second threshold and a third lower threshold limit at zero WG, which is ambient pressure.
- a compressor 164 which may be an air compressor may be provided in or proximate the container box 104.
- the compressor 164 may have a compressor controller 168 for controlling functionality of the compressor 164 as disclosed herein.
- the compressor 164 may be operationally connected to the container controller 124.
- the logistics monitor 106, the container controller 124 and the air compressor 164 may be configured to communicate over a network 188 which may be an electronic telecommunications network.
- the network 188 may apply wireless telecommunication protocols such as protocols applicable for electronic short range communications (SRC).
- SRC electronic short range communications
- the network 188 may be a private area network (PAN), which includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE).
- BTLE is a wireless technology standard designed and marketed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) for exchanging network access codes (credentials) over short distances using short-wavelength radio waves.
- PAN technologies also include Zigbee, a technology based on Section 802.15.4 from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
- Zigbee represents a suite of high-level communication protocols used to create personal area networks with small, low-power digital radios for low-power low-bandwidth needs, and is suited for small scale projects using wireless connections.
- the network 188 may apply local area network (LAN) protocols such as WiFi, which is a technology based on the Section 802.11 from the IEEE.
- LAN local area network
- WiFi which is a technology based on the Section 802.11 from the IEEE.
- 3G wireless mobile telecommunications protocols which is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union.
- IMT-2000 International Mobile Telecommunications-2000
- a process of confirming airtightness of the container box 104 illustrated is a process of confirming airtightness of the container box 104.
- the container controller 124 monitors for a trigger event to start an airtightness test.
- a trigger event may occur at certain legs in a shipping transportation cycle, such as being loaded onto or unloaded from the cargo truck 96 or cargo train 94 at an initial or final destination warehouse 98, arriving at or departing from the seaport 92, and/or begin loaded onto or unloaded from the tanker 90.
- a trigger event may be the elapse of a predetermined period of time.
- a trigger event may be the arrival at one or more predetermined geographic locations while traveling, identified using GPS 107.
- the container controller 124 may be able to obtain geographic location data from GPS 107 functionality on the logistics monitor 106 to identify geographic points serving as trigger events.
- a trigger event may be a manual initiation of an airtight test at any time. So long as a trigger event has not occurred at step S204 the container controller may cycle back to step S200.
- step S204 the container controller 124 advances to step S208 of instructing the compressor 164 to pressurize the container box 104.
- step S212 the container controller 124 monitors pressure readings in the container box 104 to determine when pressure is above the first threshold. The monitoring is performed by the container controller 124 operationally communicating with the one or more pressure transducers during pressurization of the container box 104. So long as the pressure remains below the first threshold at step S216 the container controller 124 may cycle back to step S212.
- step S216 the container controller 124 may advance to step S220 to instructing the compressor 164 to stop.
- step S224 the container controller 124 monitors for when pressure in the container box 104 falls to about the first threshold. So long as the pressure in the container box 104 remains above the first threshold, at step S228 the container controller 124 may cycle back to step S224.
- step S228 the container controller 124 may advance to step S232 of starting a timer.
- step S236 the container controller 124 monitors for when pressure in the container box 104 falls to about the second threshold. So long as the pressure in the container box 104 remains above the second threshold, at step S240 the container controller 124 may cycle back to step S236.
- the container controller may advance to step S244 of stopping the timer and recording a first duration representing the recorded time.
- the container controller 124 determines whether the first duration is within an acceptable range. That is, if the container box 104 is a forty foot container box, then an acceptable range may be greater than eight minutes. If the container box 104 is a twenty foot container box, then an acceptable range may be greater than four minutes. If the first duration is within an acceptable range then at step S256 the container controller 124 may cycle back to step S200.
- step S260 the container controller communicates an alert and then may advance to step S200.
- the alert may be instructing the tanker logistics monitor 106 to issue a sound or visual alert indicating that the container box 102 has failed the air tightness test.
- the container controller 124 may continue to perform airtightness tests on the remaining container boxes in the tanker 90 at subsequent trigger events.
- the container controller has the capability to be equipped with one or more pressure transducers enabling the performance of a pressure test during a shipping operation, instead of before the next trip.
- the container box may be pressurized either manually with a pressure hose or automatically using a pressurized cylinder or compressor attached to the container box. Either method may create the two and a half to three (2.5-3.0) inches WG needed to start the airtightness test of the container box. Some of the identified leak areas may be at the rear curtain, the access panel gaskets and the access panel bolt holes. If the access panel has been removed and replaced during transit due to a service need on the container box, the original airtightness of the container box may have been compromised.
- the container controller may be able to monitor multiple pressure transducers. This may provide the opportunity for in-transit air pressure testing to evaluate the chances of conducting a successful pre-load test of the container box before a next shipment.
- the container controller may be used to automatically conduct a pre-load test and record the results.
Description
- Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of container transport and more specifically to a pressure controlled cargo container.
- A cargo ship, sometimes referred to as a tanker, freighter ship or container ship, may carry many thousands of controlled atmosphere type cargo containers, alternatively referred to as container boxes. Typical container boxes are twenty (20) feet long and forty (40) feet long. Studies show that up to ninety (90) percent of non-bulk cargo (bulk cargo being unpackaged commodity cargo) worldwide is transported by container boxes.
- Before shipment, a manual air tightness test may be conducted on each container box. An air tightness test may include pressurizing a typical container box to between two and a half and three inches of water-gauge (WG) and timing a duration in which the container box pressure drops from two inches WG to one inch WG. To pass the test, the pressure drop duration for a forty foot container box should be at least eight minutes while the pressure drop duration for a twenty foot container box should be at least four minutes. Leaks should be found and repaired before container boxes are loaded for shipment. Typical leaks are found in a rear curtain of the container box, as well as in various implements associated with securing an access panel to a front of the container box, including perimeter gaskets, outer gaskets and bolt holes and around washers. Manually testing each container box before shipment may be time intensive and strain demands of a workforce.
CA 2122250 A1 discloses a method and device for testing the gas-tightness of containers.
US 2017/003191 A1 discloses a diagnostic system for detecting leaks in a pneumatic system such as a patient support surface including a mattress. - In a first aspect, the present invention provides a container box configured for transporting cargo on a ship, truck or train, the container box comprising: a front end and a rear end, the rear end having a rear curtain for enclosing cargo therein, the front end having a container controller disposed within an access panel, the container controller controlling the container box; one or more pressure transducers disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transducers operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers, the container box configured to perform an airtightness test during a shipping operation, including: pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold; monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold; monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold; determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range; and when the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement; wherein the container box monitors for a trigger event to initiate the airtightness test, wherein the trigger event is a predetermined activity in a transportation cycle, including one or more of being loaded onto or unloaded from a transportation vehicle, arriving at or departing from a loading or unloading destination, arriving at one or more predetermined geographic locations; wherein the container box monitoring implement is a smart mobile device; and wherein the first threshold is two inches water-gauge and the second threshold is one inch water-gauge.
- Optionally, the transportation vehicle is one or more of a roadway based vehicle, a railway based vehicle and a waterway based vehicle.
- Optionally, the container box includes a compressor and a compressor controller for controlling the compressor, the container controller being in operational communication with the compressor controller, wherein pressurizing the container box includes the container controller controlling the compressor to pressurizing container box until pressure in the container box is above the first threshold.
- Optionally, the container box is a forty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than eight minutes.
- Optionally, the container box is a twenty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than four minutes.
- Optionally, the access panel is connected to the front of the cargo container by a plurality of bolts and the access panel is fluidly secured to the cargo container by a plurality of gaskets.
- In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for performing an airtightness test during a shipping operation on a container box configured for transporting cargo on a ship, truck or train, wherein the container box includes: a front end and a rear end, the rear end having a rear curtain for enclosing cargo therein, the front end having a container controller disposed within an access panel, the container controller controlling the container box, and one or more pressure transducers disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transduces operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers, the method comprising: during a shipping operation, pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold; monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold; monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold; determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range, and when the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement; wherein the container box monitors for a trigger event to initiate the airtightness test, wherein the trigger event is a predetermined activity in a transportation cycle, including one or more of being loaded onto or unloaded from a transportation vehicle, arriving at or departing from a loading or unloading destination, arriving at one or more predetermined geographic locations; wherein the container box monitoring implement is a smart mobile device; and wherein the first threshold is two inches water-gauge and the second threshold is one inch water-gauge.
- The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
-
FIG. 1 illustrates an ecosystem for practicing the disclosed embodiments; and -
FIG. 2 illustrates a process for practicing a disclosed embodiments. - A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
- Turning to
FIG. 1 , atanker 90, docking at and departing from aseaport 92, may transport a plurality of container boxes including afirst container box 104. As each container box may be identical, thefirst container box 104 will be alternatively referred to herein ascontainer box 104. Before and/or after shipment, thecontainer box 104 may be subject to transportation on one or more of acontainer train 94, atruck 96, and may be loaded and/or unloaded at astorage warehouse 98. All aspects of the disclosed embodiments as discussed hereinafter are equally applicable to each of these forms of transportation and storage. - Aboard the
tanker 90 there may be alogistics monitor 106 which may be an electronic monitoring implement providing monitoring functionality to thetanker 90 as disclosed herein. Thelogistic monitor 106 is a smart mobile device. Smart mobile devices may include mobile phones and/or tablets, executing an appropriate "app" available via an application store such as through Google (https://play.google.com/store/), Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/) or Apple. Thelogistics monitor 106 may be configured to communicate with a global positioning system (GPS) 107 or other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) for tracking a location of thetanker 90. - The
container box 104 has afront end 108 and arear end 112. Therear end 112 has arear curtain 116 to sealcargo 120 therein. Thefront end 108 has acontainer controller 124 disposed within anaccess panel 128. Thecontainer controller 124 is used for controlling functionality of implements within thecontainer box 104 as disclosed herein. Thecontainer controller 124 may be a Carrier MicroLink Controller by Carrier Corporation, a brand of UTC (United Technologies Corporation) Climate, Controls and Security division, headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, USA. - The
access panel 128 may have connector implements 132 for connecting the access panel to thecontainer box 104. Theconnector implements 132 may includebolt holes 136,bolts 140 andwashers 144. Surrounding theaccess panel 128 may be aperimeter gasket 148 and anouter gasket 152. Many of these implements as well as the area of thecontainer box 104 aroundrear curtain 116 may provide an undesirable level of air leakage from thecontainer box 104. - Within the
container box 104 there are one or more pressure transducers, which may include afirst transducer 156 and asecond transducer 160, in operational communication with thecontainer controller 124. As each transducer may be identical and may be used identically, the first transducer may be alternatively referred to herein astransducer 156. - The one or more pressure transducers enable the
container controller 124 to determine a pressure within the container box 102. For example thecontainer controller 124 may be equipped with apressure gauge 172 such as a Magnehelic gauge by Dwyer Instruments, of Michigan City, Indiana, USA. Thegauge 172, in operational communication with thetransducer 156, may be able to indicate pressure within thecontainer box 104 as being in a plurality of pressure ranges. Afirst range 176 of the plurality of pressure ranges may have a first upper range of three inches Water-Gauge (WG) and a first lower range of two inches WG. For purposes of this disclosure the first lower range may be referred to as a first threshold. Asecond range 180 of the plurality of pressure ranges may have a second upper limit that may be the same as the first threshold, and a second lower limit of one inch WG. For purposes of this disclosure the second lower limit may be referred to as a second threshold. Athird range 184 of the plurality of pressure ranges may have a third upper limit that may be the same as the second threshold and a third lower threshold limit at zero WG, which is ambient pressure. - A
compressor 164 which may be an air compressor may be provided in or proximate thecontainer box 104. Thecompressor 164 may have acompressor controller 168 for controlling functionality of thecompressor 164 as disclosed herein. Thecompressor 164 may be operationally connected to thecontainer controller 124. - The
logistics monitor 106, thecontainer controller 124 and theair compressor 164 may be configured to communicate over anetwork 188 which may be an electronic telecommunications network. Thenetwork 188 may apply wireless telecommunication protocols such as protocols applicable for electronic short range communications (SRC). For example thenetwork 188 may be a private area network (PAN), which includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE). BTLE is a wireless technology standard designed and marketed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) for exchanging network access codes (credentials) over short distances using short-wavelength radio waves. PAN technologies also include Zigbee, a technology based on Section 802.15.4 from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). More specifically, Zigbee represents a suite of high-level communication protocols used to create personal area networks with small, low-power digital radios for low-power low-bandwidth needs, and is suited for small scale projects using wireless connections. Alternatively, thenetwork 188 may apply local area network (LAN) protocols such as WiFi, which is a technology based on the Section 802.11 from the IEEE. Yet alternatively, thenetwork 188 may apply 3G wireless mobile telecommunications protocols, which is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. Of course, these are non-limiting examples of wireless telecommunication protocols. - Turning to
FIG. 2 , illustrated is a process of confirming airtightness of thecontainer box 104. At step S200 thecontainer controller 124 monitors for a trigger event to start an airtightness test. A trigger event may occur at certain legs in a shipping transportation cycle, such as being loaded onto or unloaded from thecargo truck 96 orcargo train 94 at an initial orfinal destination warehouse 98, arriving at or departing from theseaport 92, and/or begin loaded onto or unloaded from thetanker 90. In addition, a trigger event may be the elapse of a predetermined period of time. - In addition or alternatively a trigger event may be the arrival at one or more predetermined geographic locations while traveling, identified using
GPS 107. For example, communicating with the logistics monitor 106 for thetanker 90, thecontainer controller 124 may be able to obtain geographic location data fromGPS 107 functionality on the logistics monitor 106 to identify geographic points serving as trigger events. In addition a trigger event may be a manual initiation of an airtight test at any time. So long as a trigger event has not occurred at step S204 the container controller may cycle back to step S200. - If a trigger event occurs then at step S204 the
container controller 124 advances to step S208 of instructing thecompressor 164 to pressurize thecontainer box 104. At step S212 thecontainer controller 124 monitors pressure readings in thecontainer box 104 to determine when pressure is above the first threshold. The monitoring is performed by thecontainer controller 124 operationally communicating with the one or more pressure transducers during pressurization of thecontainer box 104. So long as the pressure remains below the first threshold at step S216 thecontainer controller 124 may cycle back to step S212. - When the pressure rises above the first threshold then at step S216 the
container controller 124 may advance to step S220 to instructing thecompressor 164 to stop. At step S224 thecontainer controller 124 monitors for when pressure in thecontainer box 104 falls to about the first threshold. So long as the pressure in thecontainer box 104 remains above the first threshold, at step S228 thecontainer controller 124 may cycle back to step S224. - When the pressure in the container box drops to about the first threshold, then at step S228 the
container controller 124 may advance to step S232 of starting a timer. At step S236 thecontainer controller 124 monitors for when pressure in thecontainer box 104 falls to about the second threshold. So long as the pressure in thecontainer box 104 remains above the second threshold, at step S240 thecontainer controller 124 may cycle back to step S236. - When the pressure in the container box drops to about the second threshold, then at step S240 the container controller may advance to step S244 of stopping the timer and recording a first duration representing the recorded time. At step S248 the
container controller 124 determines whether the first duration is within an acceptable range. That is, if thecontainer box 104 is a forty foot container box, then an acceptable range may be greater than eight minutes. If thecontainer box 104 is a twenty foot container box, then an acceptable range may be greater than four minutes. If the first duration is within an acceptable range then at step S256 thecontainer controller 124 may cycle back to step S200. - If the first duration is outside of an acceptable range then at step S260 the container controller communicates an alert and then may advance to step S200. The alert may be instructing the tanker logistics monitor 106 to issue a sound or visual alert indicating that the container box 102 has failed the air tightness test. Thereafter by retuning to step S200 the
container controller 124 may continue to perform airtightness tests on the remaining container boxes in thetanker 90 at subsequent trigger events. - As disclosed above, the container controller has the capability to be equipped with one or more pressure transducers enabling the performance of a pressure test during a shipping operation, instead of before the next trip. According to embodiments the container box may be pressurized either manually with a pressure hose or automatically using a pressurized cylinder or compressor attached to the container box. Either method may create the two and a half to three (2.5-3.0) inches WG needed to start the airtightness test of the container box. Some of the identified leak areas may be at the rear curtain, the access panel gaskets and the access panel bolt holes. If the access panel has been removed and replaced during transit due to a service need on the container box, the original airtightness of the container box may have been compromised.
- The container controller may be able to monitor multiple pressure transducers. This may provide the opportunity for in-transit air pressure testing to evaluate the chances of conducting a successful pre-load test of the container box before a next shipment. In addition, the container controller may be used to automatically conduct a pre-load test and record the results.
- The term "about" is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
- While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
Claims (12)
- A container box (104) configured for transporting cargo on a ship (90), truck (96) or train (94), the container box comprising:a front end (108) and a rear end (112), the rear end having a rear curtain (116) for enclosing cargo (120) therein, the front end having a container controller (124) disposed within an access panel (128), the container controller controlling the container box;one or more pressure transducers (156, 160) disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transducers operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers,the container box configured to perform an airtightness test during a shipping operation, including:pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold;monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold;monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold;determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range; andwhen the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement (106);wherein the container box monitors for a trigger event to initiate the airtightness test, wherein the trigger event is a predetermined activity in a transportation cycle, including one or more of being loaded onto or unloaded from a transportation vehicle, arriving at or departing from a loading or unloading destination, arriving at one or more predetermined geographic locations;wherein the container box monitoring implement is a smart mobile device (106); andwherein the first threshold is two inches water-gauge and the second threshold is one inch water-gauge.
- The container box of claim 1 wherein the transportation vehicle is one or more of a roadway based vehicle, a railway based vehicle and a waterway based vehicle.
- The container box of claim 1 including a compressor (164) and a compressor controller (168) for controlling the compressor, the container controller (124) being in operational communication with the compressor controller, wherein pressurizing the container box (104) includes the container controller controlling the compressor to pressurizing container box until pressure in the container box is above the first threshold.
- The container box of claim 1 wherein the container box (104) is a forty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than eight minutes.
- The container box of claim 1 wherein the container box (104) is a twenty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than four minutes.
- The container box of claim 1 wherein the access panel (128) is connected to the front of the cargo container (104) by a plurality of bolts (140) and the access panel is fluidly secured to the cargo container by a plurality of gaskets (148, 152).
- A method for performing an airtightness test during a shipping operation on a container box (104) configured for transporting cargo on a ship (90), truck (96) or train (94),wherein the container box includes: a front end (108) and a rear end (112), the rear end having a rear curtain (116) to enclose cargo (120) therein, the front end having a container controller (124) disposed within an access panel (128), the container controller controlling the container box, and one or more pressure transducers (156, 160) disposed within the container box, the one or more pressure transduces operatively connected to the container box, wherein the container box is configured for monitoring pressure within the container box with the pressure transducers,the method comprising:during a shipping operation, pressurizing the container box until pressure in the container box is above a first threshold;monitoring pressure in the container box to determine when pressure in the container box is proximate the first threshold;monitoring a first duration during which pressure in the contain box drops from the first threshold to a second threshold;determining whether the first duration is within an acceptable range, andwhen the duration is outside the acceptable range, communicating an alert to a container box monitoring implement (160);wherein the container box monitors for a trigger event to initiate the airtightness test, wherein the trigger event is a predetermined activity in a transportation cycle, including one or more of being loaded onto or unloaded from a transportation vehicle, arriving at or departing from a loading or unloading destination, arriving at one or more predetermined geographic locations;wherein the container box monitoring implement is a smart mobile device (106); andwherein the first threshold is two inches water-gauge and the second threshold is one inch water-gauge.
- The method of claim 7 wherein the transportation vehicle is one or more of a roadway based vehicle, a railway based vehicle and a waterway based vehicle.
- The method of claim 7 including a compressor (164) and a compressor controller (168) for controlling the compressor, the container controller (124) being in operational communication with the compressor controller, wherein pressurizing the container box includes the container controller controlling the compressor to pressurizing container box until pressure in the container box is above the first threshold.
- The method of claim 9 wherein the container box (104) is a forty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than eight minutes.
- The method of claim 9 wherein the container box (104) is a twenty foot cargo container and, the acceptable duration range is greater than four minutes.
- The method of claim 9 wherein the access panel (128) is connected to the front of the cargo container (104) by a plurality of bolts (140), and the access panel is fluidly secured to the cargo container by a plurality of gaskets (148, 152).
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US201862656129P | 2018-04-11 | 2018-04-11 | |
PCT/US2019/026738 WO2019199932A1 (en) | 2018-04-11 | 2019-04-10 | Pressure controlled cargo container for controlled atmosphere applications |
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EP3775823A1 EP3775823A1 (en) | 2021-02-17 |
EP3775823B1 true EP3775823B1 (en) | 2023-05-31 |
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EP (1) | EP3775823B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN112219098B (en) |
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US20210108984A1 (en) | 2021-04-15 |
SG11202009954VA (en) | 2020-11-27 |
CN112219098A (en) | 2021-01-12 |
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